Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-09-15


had been invited to partake of various
small-7ery small-forms of hospitality
at Prince s-gate. Little teas and lunch
cons might bring young people together
quite as advantageously as more costly
entertainments. Her ladyship was a
skilled matchmaker. Two daughters
had already been disposed of in their
first season. But this was now Lady
Geraldine's second year in the marke-
She was certainly more difficult to
manage than the docile elder sisters
had been. Still, Lady Umfreville did
not despair of settling her this season.
June had only just begun. There was
a fourth girl coming in shortly. Lady
Margaret was still in the school-room,
though fully entitled to be emanci-
pated, and she was spirited young
lady who might be more difficult to
control than all her predecessors.
what is he like, Jerry? l mean the
CITY man that every one is talking
about. l know mamma thinks you
have captivated him. You might bring
him up to the school-room for my in
spection some day. Pretend you want
to show him your drawings.
Il should like to see stock-broker.
His name has very fish-like smell.
Fancy being Lady Geraldine Codd!
Does he look Ikea gentleman? Don't
YOU think YOU had better turn him over
to me. Jerry?"
Here the lively Lady Margaret be-
gan dancing about the room. "Shan't
l have fine time of it when l come
out! l mean to make up for being
kept back year. You see you must
be out of the way, Jerry. You are SO
very good-looking."
Lady Geraldine answered, smiling:
''Do be sensible, Maggie, and I'll tel!
you all about Mr.. Optimus Codd.
Well, he's rather fat. and not got any
particular expression, but l think he S
very good-natured. l really think
like him, and if A lovely blush
rose to her face.
IF you hadn't fallen in love with
some one else. and if you were quite
sure Mr.. Optimus Cobb didn't want to
marry you. Don't you be the least bit
gracious to him. or he'll say you gave
him encouragement. They always do
if you are polite. But, Geraldine, l
advise you to give up Reggie Paulet.
He has got next to nothing, and you
can't marry on love"
Lady Geraldine tossed up her pretty
head. ''You mind your own business,
Maggie. You're very disagreeable,
and l shan't tell you any thing more
about any one meet"
In due course of time Mr.. Codd did
come to the school-room to inspect
Gcraldine's drawings. Lady Margaret
and an ANTICIPATED German governess
were reading aloud.
Il hope we are not interrupting.
Mr.. Codd is very anxious to see my
sketches. Fraulein. This is my sister;
Mr.. Codd."
"How do you do, Mr. Codd. 1t is
very kind of you to come up here.
Geraldine has told me all about you.
You have such a lovely house and beau
tiful pictures. and such nice things to
eat. am not out or 1 should like to
come and see it ALL
Mr.. Codd murmured something vague
about next year.
Jerry is very kind to me, you know.
though she will not make haste and
get married. If want particularly to
see any of her admirers-you do ad-
mire her, of course, or you would not
come so often-she always manages to
bring them upstairs. Now, Rupert
Paulet and l are great friends-isn't he
dear boy? And Lord Strathnellan
was very nice, too, till Geraldine re-
fused him and he went off to America,
and has been shooting bears ever since
You know l mustn't come downstairs
to the drawing-room or be inspected by
any young men before my hour has
struck. Mamma would faint if made
myself known prematurely. 1 am to
burst suddenly on the fashionable
world. Do you admire mamma? Don t
you think her clever? Oh, you would
say she is clever if you knew my Sis
tiers Letitia and Hermione. They are
both very stupid and not particularly
good-iooking-Jerry and l are the best
of the lot-yet they both married well
and Letitia is Marchioness. Mamma
managed it all. You cant think how
dull and pompous my brother-in-law
Slateford is! L don't think l should
care to be Il Marchioness.
Mr. Codd appeared much amused by
this girlish chatter. The outspoken
Lady Margaret had charming
piquant face that made people feel
young to look at Lady Geraldine and
the governess returned from the adj
joining room with portfolios to find
Mr.. Codd and Lady Margaret on the
best of terms.
Mr.. Codd had had no previous con-
ception that aristocratic lips were ever
frank and ingenious, though he was.
of course, aware the humanity of a
lower degree is candid to a painful de-